Oscar Nominations 2019: 6 Ups & 9 Downs
2. Snubbed: First Man & If Beale Street Could Talk For Best Picture
Due to the Academy's over-complicated preferential ballot system, there were only eight films nominated for Best Picture this year, leaving two spots unfilled which clearly should've gone to First Man and If Beale Street Could Talk.
In the case of First Man, the movie's detached tone and disappointing box office performance may be to blame, while Barry Jenkins' drama was one of the year's best-reviewed films and seemed like a total lock for Best Picture, so its omission is much more surprising.
In a year where a decidedly less-nuanced film about a race relations (Green Book) actually made the Best Picture field, it's especially infuriating to see Jenkins' film not making the cut.
Clearly, the balloting system needs a rework, because while there shouldn't be 10 Best Picture nominees by default, the final slate wouldn't seem quite so underwhelming if a few outside prospects made it into the field.